Vehicle operated gate



June 21, 1966 F. TORREY 3, 7

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TE United States Patent 3,256,637 VEHICLE OPERATED GATE Frank Torrey, Box 721, Limon, Colo. Filed Dec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,293 5 Claims. (Cl. 49-I04) The present inventionrelates to a vehicle operated gate, that is, a structure which is installed in a gateway affording an entrance to an enclosed farm or similar area and has to do with gate means which is improved in that it is characterized by a horizontal main frame and companion gates pivotally supported thereon.

An object of the invention is to improve upon prior art gate structures which are constructed and perform in a manner similar to the present invention and to thus provide a special adaptation which adequately and satisfactorily serves the purposes for which it is intended.

More specifically, the invention pertains to a gate construction wherein an elongated base frame is permanently or equivalently mounted in the gateway with halfportions thereof projecting one within the limits of the farm, field or other area and the other outwardly thereof, and wherein the gate sections are of openwork construction and have their outer ends pivotally joined to the respective end portions of the main or base frame and which sections are normally inclined upwardly toward each other to assume a position wherein the overall structure provides a practical and acceptable cattle guard.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the main or base frame, which constitutes the relatively stationary unit, is positioned in a horizontal plane atop the ground or other surface. The two gates or gate sections have their respective outer or transverse ends hingedly mounted on the corresponding transverse ends of the base frame. The inner adjacent ends of the gate sections are provided with cooperating gate depressing actuators which are related in such a manner that when the automobile rides up atop one gate or section and the weight of the vehicle forces it down, the then cooperating actuators, come into play and force the other gate section down whereby both gate sections assume a generally flatwise plane over which the automobile may travel without difficulty and during which time the component parts of the base frame and gate sections provide a substantial reliably usable floor-like platform.

As will be hereinafter clarified one of the hinged depressible gate sections is provided at the normally elevated end thereof with a pair of opposed generally L-shaped spring-loaded levers. These levers are pivoted on the respectively cooperable side rails of said one gate section and have normal lower end portions thereof provided with turned in or laterally disposed free-turning rollers. These rollers are movable along median portions of'the side rails of the underlying base frame in a manner that the gates or gate sections are caused to move simultaneously downwardly and to slowly assume substantially level relationship and, conversely, are gradually elevated and returned to their normal inwardly upwardly converging relationship in readiness for the next operation.

I These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a cattle guardtype vehicle operated gate constructed in accordance with the invention and showing how it is constructed and installed;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation and on a slightly enlarged scale which is taken on the plane of the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

- sturdily constructed openwork-type frame which is positioned horizontally and permanently or equivalently parallel elongated side angle irons or rails 8 connected at respective ends by transverse cross members also simple angle irons It). This frame is provided within the marginal limits of the side and end frame members with a plurality of lengthwise spaced parallel angle irons which are denoted at 12. Thus the base means is a simple anchored in the gateway in the manner suggested in FIG. 1. It will be noted that at its central or medium portion tubular limit stop members 14 and 16 are provided. These members have their ends resting atop the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 8 one of which is shown for example in FIG. 2. Each horizontal flange 17 is provided with simple angle clips or brackets 18 which are paired and anchored by welding or otherwise and the adjacent end portions of the tubular stop member are fixed therein. One limit stop member 14 is to the left of the center of the main base frame and the other one to the right thereof. That portion of the frame which is located between the stop members 14 and 16 (see FIG. 2) and which is denoted at 20 provides a track.

The normally elevated gates or gate sections incline upwardly and toward each other in the normal ready-tofunction state as is brought out in FIG. 1 and more plainly in FIG. 2. These gate sections are substantially the same in construction. One gate at the left in FIG. 2 is denoted by the numeral 22'and the other one at the right by the numeral 24. Structurally, each gate comprises longitudinal or lengthwise angle irons 26 having their inner ends joined by a similar angle iron 28. The angle iron at the outer end denoted at 30 cooperates with the associated angle iron 10 of the main base frame and the vertical flanges of the side angle irons adjacent thereto, that is the flanges 32 (see FIG. 4) are pivoted or hinged as denoted generally at 34. These two gate units or sections 22 and 24 are each one-half the length of the underlying base frame 6. Adjacent the lefthand and righthand portions these sections are provided with suitably paired rigid actuators or gate depressors one being denoted at 36 and the other one at 38. They project beyond their respective angle irons 28 as illustrated in FIG. 2. They are welded in place on their intended parts as denoted at 40. One actuator 38 is provided with a link or ring 42 to which a coil spring 44 is connected as at 46. The lefthand end portions of the two coil springs 44, that is, the ends designated at 48, are connected to the short limb portions 50 of the L-shaped levers 52. Each lever has a long arm 54 which is provided at one end with a laterally projecting member 56 which constitutes an axle and which serves to accommodate a sleeve which is freely turnable and constitutes an anti-friction roller 58. This roller is freely shiftable or rollable along the trackway as denoted by the arrow A in FIG. 2. A median portion of the long arm or limb 54 is pivotally connected at 60 to a lug 62 provided on the flange 64 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The lugs 62 and the respective left and right L-shaped levers 52 are properly oriented and coordinated to achieve the gate-supporting and gate-folding positions illustrated. This is to say the tension of the coil springs 44 function to normally incline the respective levers 52 whereby they prop up the inner adjacent end portions of the respective gates 22 and 24. When, however, an automobile approaches and rolls atop the gate sections both gate sections are forced or pressed downwardly at the same time. Assuming that the automobile is traveling in FIG. 1 in a direction from right to left it will ride up on the gate 24 and in so doing the actuating members 36 on the free inner end thereof will press down on the adjacent end of the companion gate 22 and both gates will be pressed gradually down to assume the floor-like or platform relationship illustrated at the right in FIG. 3. With both gate sections substantially flat the automobile can pass thereover without any difiiculty. When the automobile has passed beyond the gate over which it has passed last that gate will be released and both gates acted on by the spring loaded levers 52 and the rollers will resume their normal elevated or open relationship. It will also be evident that the aforementioned limit stop tubes 14 and 16 provide firm rests or stops for the gate sections as is evident from FIG. 3.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the invention, the features and advantages and the manner of use and operation of the component parts. Therefore, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vehicle, operated gate construction comprising a horizontally elongated base frame having longitudinal and transversely extending frame members and also provided with horizontal spaced parallel lengthwise reinforcing members, the longitudinal members comprising angle irons having horizontal flanges, the median portions of said flanges constituting trackways, a pair of spaced parallel transversely extending limit stop members mount-' ed atop the respective median portions of said flanges, a pair of complemental gate sections having outer ends hingedly joined to adjacent outer end portions of said base frame and having inner ends provided with oriented coordinating actuators on one end of one gate section and similar actuators on a corresponding inner end of the other gate section and said actuators projecting in a manner so that when one gate section is forced down under the weight of an automobile moving thereover, the actuators thereon come into play and force down the other gate section and vice versa, the inner adjacent ends of said gate sections being directly above the aforementioned limit stop members and said limit stop members serving.

to limit the downward travel of the gate sections, and a pair of spring-loaded levers carried by the side members of one of said gate sections, said levers having lower end portions provided with anti-friction rollers and said rollers being cooperable with the aforementioned trackways.

2. A vehicle operated gate construction comprising a horizontally elongated base frame having longitudinal and transversely extending frame members and also provided with horizontal spaced parallel lengthwise reinforcing members, the longitudinal members comprising angle irons having horizontal flanges, the median portions of said flanges constituting trackways, a pair of spaced parallel transversely extending limit stop members mounted atop the respective median portions of said flanges, a pair of companion gate sections having outer ends hingedly joined to corresponding outer end portions of said base frame, oriented coordinating actuators fixed on an inner end of one gate section, similar actuators fixed on a corresponding inner end of the other gate section, said actuators projecting in a manner so that when one gate section is forced down under the weight of an automobile moving thereover, the actuators thereon come into play and force down the other gate section and vice versa, the inner ends of said gate sections being directly above the aforementioned limit stop members and said limit stop members serving to limit the downward travel of said gate sections, a pair of L-shaped levers, each lever embodying a long arm and a complemental short arm, the median portion of said long arm being hingedly operatively mounted on a cooperating side member of one of said gate sections, the lower end of said long arm being free and provided with anti-friction roller means slidingly cooperable with an adjacent underlying one of the aforementioned trackways, and a coil spring having one end secured to an end portion of said short arm and its other end portion anchored on an adjacent coordinating part of said one gate section.

3. In a vehicle gate construction, a base frame adapted, when in use, to assume a relatively stationary horizontal ground-supported position, said base frame embodying interconnected longitudinal frame members assembled and joined together by transverse frame members, the longitudinal frame members each comprising an angle iron having turned in horizontal flanges, portions of said flanges constituting roller supporting tracks, at least one rigid limit stop spanning the space between and fixedly mounted atop said flanges, at least one openwork gate superimposed upon said base frame and having an end portion thereof hingedly joined to a cooperating end portion of said base frame, having its major portion overlying the base frame and having a free swingable end portion movable toward and from said limit stop, a pair of oppositely disposed cooperating L-shaped levers, median portions of the long arms of said levers being pivotally mounted on opposite cooperating portions of said gate, said long arms being in a plane lateral to the plane of the longitudinal members of said base frame, lower free end portions of said long arms being provided with right angularly disposed free turning anti-friction rollers, said rollers being rollable back and forth on their respectively cooperating tracks, and coil springs joining the short arms of the respective levers to a cooperating portion of said gate.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and wherein said levers are identical in construction, are disposed in spacedapart cooperating parallel relationship, and wherein the respective rollers are simultaneously cooperable and are in spaced-apart axial alignment.

5. In a vehicle operated gate construction, a base frame adapted to assume a reliably usable position atop the ground or an equivalent foundation, said base frame having inner and outer transverse ends, a pair of structurally and functionally similar gate sections having their respective outwardly disposed ends hingedly joined to the respective inner and outer ends of said base frame and having their inner ends oriented and interrelated in close spaced proximity to each other, said gate sections normally assuming upwardly inclined relationship but being adapted when weight is imposed thereon to be forcibly pressed down toward and in general coplanar positions against said base frame, a coacting pressure responsive member mounted on the respective inner adjacent ends of said gate sections whereby when one gate section is forced down the other gate section is simultaneously and likewise forced down, said base frame being provided adjacent a median portion thereof with a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally spaced limit stop members, said stop members underlying the normally elevated respectively adjacent inner ends of said gate sections, said inner ends being adapted to reside firmly 5 6 atop their respective limit stops when the gate sections References Cited by the Examiner are in their respective down positions, and spring-loaded UNITED STATES PATENTS means operatively mounted on opposite longitudinal side portions of at least one of said gate sections and serving 7/1881 Powers 394 to simultaneously act on both gate sections and to main- 5 'Eounsborg et tain the same in normal outwardly and downwardly in- Oper clined ready-to-use relationship, said spring means also FOREIGN PATENTS embodying anti-friction means having friction-resisting 233,860 12/1959 Australia cooperative engagement with predetermined portions of the aforementioned frame. 10 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

5. IN A VEHICLE OPERATED GATE CONSTRUCTION, A BASE FRAME ADAPTED TO ASSUME A RELIABLY USABLE POSITION ATOP THE GROUND OR AN EQUIVALENT FOUNDATION, SAID BASE FRAME HAVING INNER AND OUTER TRANSVERSE ENDS, A PAIR OF STRUCTURALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY SIMILAR GATE SECTIONS HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE OUTWARDLY DISPOSED ENDS HINGEDLY JOINED TO THE RESPECTIVE INNER AND OUTER ENDS OF SAID BASE FRAME AND HAVING THEIR INNER ENDS OF ORIENTED AND INTERRELATED IN CLOSE SPACED PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, SAID GATE SECTIONS NORMALLY ASSUMING UPWARDLY INCLINED RELATIONSHIP BUT BEING ADAPTED WHEN WEIGHT IS IMPOSED THEREON TO BE FORCIBLY PRESSED DOWN TOWARD AND IN GENERAL COPLANAR POSITIONS AGAINST SAID BASE FRAME, A COACTING PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE RESPECTIVE INNER ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID GATE SECTIONS WHEREBY WHEN ONE GATE SECTION IS FORCED DOWN THE OTHER GATE SECTION IS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND LIKEWISE FORCED DOWN, SAID BASE FRAME BEING PROVIDED ADJACENT A MEDIAN PORTION THEREOF WITH A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL LONGITUDINALLY SPACED LIMIT STOP MEMBERS, SAID STOP MEMBERS UNDERLYING THE NORMALLY ELEVATED RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID GATE SECTIONS, SAID INNER ENDS BEING ADAPTED TO RESIDE FIRMLY ATOP THEIR RESPECTIVE ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID GATE ARE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DOWN POSITIONS, AND SPRING-LOADED MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL SIDE PORTIONS OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID GATE SECTIONS AND SERVING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ACT ON BOTH GATE SECTIONS AND TO MAINTAIN THE SAME IN NORMAL OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED READY-TO-USE RELATIONSHIP, SAID SPRING MEANS ALSO EMBODYING ANTI-FRICTION MEANS HAVING FRICTION-RESISTING COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH PREDETERMINED PORTIONS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED FRAME. 